In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

Chapter 107 We Want Private Property Too

Michael's eyes widened in surprise. "What are you talking about?"

Nearby, both Miaomiao and Marcus momentarily avoided eye contact, their behavior suspicious. Benjamin continued his protest.

"My Hydra has started protesting, demanding wages! And it's not just him—other magical beasts are doing the same!"

From a distance, the Hydra and other magical beasts peeked out, observing the situation. Realizing what had happened, Michael's lips curved into a faint smile.

"Well, it seems even magical beasts have come to recognize their worth."

Seeing Michael's reaction wasn't outright negative, Miaomiao and Marcus perked up, chiming in support.

[That's right! Hydra, Pegasus, they've been serving the same family for over 300 years. And yet, they've never even touched a single gold coin! Isn't that outrageous?]

{Exactly! We haven't even worked for a year, and we've already earned... how much again?}

Marcus began trying to count his accumulated gold using his claws, but it proved to be a futile effort. Michael interjected with a grin.

"Don't worry about your gold. I've been investing it wisely, and it's growing every day."

Satisfied by Michael's reassurance, Miaomiao and Marcus nodded approvingly. Michael then turned to Benjamin and the other knights.

"I used to think only my dragons and sphinxes cared for gold, but it seems other magical beasts feel the same. Why not simply pay them a fair wage?"

Benjamin looked bewildered, struggling to refute. "Why in the world would magical beasts need wages? We provide them with food and shelter already..." Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire

Miaomiao and Marcus stepped forward in unison, exuding an imposing presence that caused the knights to retreat slightly.

[Excuse me? If that's your argument, why do you live in large houses and hoard wealth you'll never fully use? By your logic, you're stockpiling grain and cattle you'll never consume in a lifetime. Isn't that just as pointless?]

Miaomiao's sharp words hit their mark, and Benjamin faltered, stumbling over his response. "W-well, that's private property, and..."

[We want private property too. With it, we can buy jewels whenever we like, and we won't have to wait for someone to bring us food.]

Other magical beasts nodded in agreement as Miaomiao spoke without hesitation. Michael, observing her with pride, envisioned the beasts eventually investing in his future institution.

Magical beasts, with their near-immortal lifespans barring accidents, would not only earn wages but could become a reliable source of revenue for the domain. Given that they already received sustenance from their affiliated families, it was unlikely they would withdraw their investments. If they did, returning their gold with moderate interest would suffice.

Most magical beasts, Michael noted, were highly intelligent. Though exceptions like Marcus existed, beasts ranked 7 or higher could communicate fluently, and even lower-ranked ones understood instructions well. Convincing them of the long-term benefits of investment would not be difficult.

Intimidated by Miaomiao's imposing presence, the knights grumbled as they departed, muttering about the absurdity of having to determine wages for magical beasts.

"This is utterly ridiculous..." one knight complained, only to be glared at by his contracted magical beast. Flustered, the knight hurried to placate his beast.

Watching their retreating figures, Michael and Marcus soared into the sky.

Michael pondered who might best handle the establishment of his investment bank as they approached the mine entrance. The once-abandoned mine had undergone a remarkable transformation, bustling with energy and the sounds of activity.

The miners who had returned to Iron Valley wore bright expressions. They hadn't left their homeland because the work was hard, but because there was no hope.

What could miners do with an ownerless mine? Secretly extract ore and sell it? No one had a death wish. For these men and women, raised in the mines since childhood, regaining their jobs brought immense joy.

Even non-miners could now work without a lengthy apprenticeship, thanks to Michael's revolutionary system. Wearing magically enhanced helmets inspired by modern safety gear, the miners entered the shafts with confidence, singing praises for Michael.

"This helmet is incredible. No more carrying torches around!"

"Right? And look at this thing called a drill. We used to heat rocks and douse them with water to crack them, but now iron ore falls right out when we use this. How did Sir Michael even come up with this?"

"That's why he's a man of greatness. We simple folk could never manage something like this."

Miaomiao, with her sharp hearing, relayed the conversations to Michael, who smiled in satisfaction. Pushing Leonardo to develop the drill had been the right decision. With Rabouin working on gunpowder, mining would soon become even more efficient.

The mining process itself had also become more streamlined. Experienced miners now partnered with Marcus to identify optimal excavation sites. Once marked, Miaomiao and the recently arrived Rank-9 magical beast, Great Worm, entered to carve out the tunnels.

As the Great Worm burrowed through the mountains, Miaomiao followed, fortifying the walls—a task befitting the descendant of sphinxes who once built and guarded the tombs of ancient gods.

Next, miners trained in using drills broke through rocks, while others wielding picks, crowbars, hammers, and chisels extracted iron ore. The ore was then collected into carts and transported out of the mine for sorting.

Previously, miners apprenticed under a single master and handled every stage of the process. With the new division of labor, speed increased, and even novices could quickly become proficient.

Michael inspected the sorted iron ore. Its brownish hue indicated mediocre quality, sufficient for farm tools or low-grade weaponry. With demand for such items still high, it would suffice for now. High-quality iron could be extracted once the war ended.

He recalled a letter he had recently received from Princess Astrid. Written on delicate, rose-embellished paper with a faint fragrance, it conveyed her regards and a warning that war would break out within two months.

"This is why connections are invaluable," Michael mused, a smile tugging at his lips. Two months would be enough time to relocate his people and prepare for war.

As he stood lost in thought, a man suddenly came rushing out of the mine, shouting, "Sir! Please come here for a moment!"